Coronavirus - Hong Kong's largest international school operator cuts tuition fees as parents across city petition for financial relief

By ITS Education Asia

It is good to see that where possible institutions are trying to reduce the financial burden on parents. This article from The SCMP is reporting on a significant fee cut by the English Schools Foundation (ESF) on their Hong Kong tuition fees.

Hong Kong’s biggest international school operator has offered a 45 per cent discount on June tuition fees, while hundreds of parents from three other international schools are demanding similar reductions amid the Covid-19 shutdown of face-to-face classes.

The English Schools Foundation (ESF), which runs 22 schools in the city, on Tuesday said most of its 17,700 pupils’ families would be able to apply for the reduction. It also said it planned to launch a new emergency assistance scheme that would allow parents to defer up to half the fees from April, May and June, in addition to extending existing relief measures.

The 45 per cent discount can be claimed by any parents whose children’s fees are not already being paid for through financial assistance programmes or by government bodies.

It needs to be remembered that schools have not seen their operating costs fall as a result of the virus as they still need to pay wages and other associated expenses.  If schools do not charge the fees then they will go broke and be forced to close down.  There are no good solutions to the problems caused by this virus.

Photo / Image Credit : 

"Top view of high school students sitting in a lecture theater - Editorial use" by PIKREPO